Plate-lifter



(NoModelQ) E. D; DEFENDER-PER. PLATE LIFTER.

515595530. 5 Patented Dec. 14, 1897.

IN VENTOH ATTOHNE UNITED STATES EErcE.

PATENT PLATE-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,530, dated December 14, 1897. Application filed April 6, 1897. Serial No. 630,922- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELAM D. DIFFENDER- FER, of West Milton, in the county of Union and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Plate-Lifter, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lifting device which is simple and durable in construction, easily manipulated, and arranged to permit of getting a secure hold on a plate, pan, or other vessel, to dispose the same in a different position or to transfer it from one place to another, as circumstances may require.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and thenpointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improvement. Fig. 2 is alon'gitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of part of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a modified form of the improvement.

The improved plate-lifter is provided with a rod or a handle A, formed at its forward end with a transversely-extending slot, into which is fitted the doubled-up flange B, made of sheet metal and secured to the rod by the pin 0. The flange extends on opposite sides of the rod and is formed at its outer ends with the eyes B and 13*, adapted to receive the longitudinally-extending ends of the outer jaw D of the lifter. The jawD is made of a piece of wire bent to the form shown in the drawings, so as to readily engage the side of a pan, plate, or other vessel, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The inner jaw E is constructed in similar manner and is adapted to engage the pan, plate, or other vessel directly opposite the jaw D, so as to securely support and hold the pan, plate, or other vessel in position or to move the same from one place to another without danger vof. spilling the contents of the plate, pan, or vessel. The inner jaw E has its ends attached to the eyes F F formed on the sides of a sleeve F, fitted to slide longitudinally on the rod A and provided on top with a handle-piece F adapted to be taken hold of by the operators finger to move the sleeve F forward or backward on the rod A and to hold the sleeve in a locked position at the time the jaws engage the plate, pan, or other vessel.

In order to prevent the sleeve F from turning on the rod A, I form the sleeve with a longitudinally-extending tongue F fitting into a longitudinally-extending groove A, formed in the under side of the rod A.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangement described the jaw E can be readily moved in a longitudinal direction, so as to conveniently engage or disengage the plate, pan, or other vessel directly opposite the fixed jaw D to securely hold the plate, pan, or other vessel in place while moving it from one place to another.

The bottoms D and E of the jaws D and E are bent approximately V-shaped, and the sides D E are likewise constructed and connect with the lateral top rods D E, from which extend the ends D E, engaging the eyes B B and F F respectively.

Instead of holding the movable jaw E in a locked position by the operator placing the finger on the handle F I may employ a spring G for the same purpose, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this case the rod A is made tubular, and the spring G is placed in the tubular rod and connected at its forward end with the flange B held in place by the pin C, carrying the front jaw D The rear jaw E is carried by the sleeve F having a pin F traveling in longitudinal slots A formed in the rod A the said pin F also carrying the inner end of the spring G, so as to draw the sleeve F, with its jaw E forward to engage the plate opposite the jaw D When it is desired to take hold of a plate, pan, or other vessel, the operator takes hold of the knob F formed on the top of the pin F to pull the sleeve F rearwardly against the tension of the spring G. The jaw E clears the inner end of the plate and the outer jaw engages the plate. The operator now releases the pressure on the sleeve F so that the spring G draws the sleeve F and jaw E outward to engage the plate by the jaw E directly opposite the jaw D The device is very simple and durable in construction, can be readily manipulated, and cheaply manufactured.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A plate-lifter, comprising a handled rod provided with flanges extending laterally therefrom at its forward end and formed with eyes, an outer jaw secured in said eyes, a sleeve fitted to slide longitudinally on the said rod and held against turning thereon, said sleeve being formed with eyes in its sides, and an inner jaw secured in the eyes of said sleeve, substantially as described.

2. A plate-lifter, comprising a handled rod formed with a transverse slot at its forward end and with a longitudinally extending groove, a doubled-up metal flange secured in said slot and formed with eyes, an outer jaw having its ends secured in said eyes, a sleeve fitted to slide longitudinally on said rod and provided with a tongue engaging the groove in said rod, said sleeve being provided with eyes formed on its sides, an inner jaw having its ends secured in said eyes, and means substantially as described for holding said sleeve in a forward position to lock said inner jaw in position on the plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

ELAM D. DIFFENDERFER.

\Vitnesses:

A. EILENBERGER, C. H. RANCK. 

